Calne mum's idea for shoe swap site (From This Is Wiltshire)

Calne mum's idea for shoe swap site

7:00am Sunday 6th December 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

Mum-of-three Louise Gorry is so fed up of buying her disabled daughter two pairs of shoes to fit her different sized feet that she has decided to take action.

Mrs Gorry’s six-year-old daughter Hannah, who has spina bifida which affects her body from the waist down, was born with one foot two sizes bigger than the other.

Now, Mrs Gorry, 41, of Springfield Drive, Calne is determined to set up a website for people in the same position who want to swap shoes.

She said: “This affects so many people and it is so difficult to get new shoes for Hannah.

“Spina bifida affects Hannah’s feet so she can only wear trainers.

“But when we buy her a new pair of shoes we always have to get two separate pairs.

“I have been keeping the shoes that we don’t actually use for years and I’ve been saying we are going to set up a website for people to swap shoes for so long.

“There is not really anything like this in the whole of the country and if you think of all the servicemen and women who come back to the UK from Afghanistan and have lost limbs – they can’t just buy one shoe.”

Mrs Gorry and husband Richard, who have a 16-year-old son Thomas and a nine-year-old daughter Natasha who has Down’s syndrome, are also expected to gain the backing of Help for Heroes, who will allow the website to carry their logo.

Hannah and sister Natasha are both pupils at Fynamore School, but regular hospital appointments result in a lot of time spent away from home and Mrs Gorry hopes the website will help make life a little bit easier for the family, as well as others up and down the country.

She added: “I am determined to set the website up but I just need help with sponsorship for the server and some advice in getting it up and running.

“I am desperate to set it up.”

Anyone who can help Mrs Gorry should contact her on (01249) 822851.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)